Capacity and staffing concerns at MVHS.

As the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise, Mohawk Valley Health System is now acknowledging that there are capacity concerns, but the biggest issue they're facing is staffing shortages.

Jason is off tonight.

As the number of covid hospitalizations continue to rise here at home... m-v-h-s officials and employees say capacity and staffing concerns are growing.

.

None .

None kent "we are rapidly approaching capacity within the mohawk valley health system."

The hospital is now implementing their surge plan that was developedinr more patient care.

As patient numbers rise... staffing levels can't keepp.10:05:48;00 f them."

Lily werezak is anurse at to staff ratios at mvhs.

10:05:10;02 10:05:23;08 nurse "on med surge sometimes, the nurses are taking up to 14 patients, safe patient ratio for med surge would be 1 nurse for 5 patients so they're almost tripling what would be considered safe by many standards."

Dr. kent hall acknowledges that there is a staffing shortage.

3:20;00 3:45;14 kent "there was already a preexisting shortage on nurses, 1.2 million shortage across the country.

Add to that nurses are human beings are going to get sick we have a number of our staff currently out with covid and there for are not able to work."

He says they are doing what they can to recruit more nurses... but werenczak says its not enough.

10:11:46;16 10:11:59;09 nurse "they need to be more aggressive to get people in."

Werenczak says the bottom line is that patients are not being cared for the way they should be.

10:14:53;16 10:15:05;02 nurse "the patients are suffering immensely, it brings tears to my eyes, it brings tears to other nurses and healthcare workers eyes.

Not being able to provide the care the patients deserve."

But dr. hall says starting monday, non-essential procedures will be put on hold to free up other staff members.

10:20;04 10:32;09 kent "we ccute thatnd in doinghat we willfree s and clinical assisnts thatan help the nses on the floor."

>